Greg Tagert is realistic about the coronavirus pandemic.
But as he enters the 26th year of his career, including his 16th season as the RailCats’ manager, he’s not yet prepared to give up on his team opening the American Association season as scheduled May 19 at Sioux Falls.
“One thing that keeps me optimistic — and I’m not as optimistic as I was a week ago — is our league and our teams have handled it extremely well,” Tagert said. “Things change day to day, but I’m holding out hope we still can start on time or close to it.”
One accommodation that almost certainly will come to pass is the reduction of spring training from two weeks to as little as two days.
The league’s managers have agreed on that front as a means to attempt to start the games as scheduled. In that scenario, rosters likely would be expanded at least early in the season, particularly to protect pitchers.
“We can get the guys here and go,” Tagert said. “We certainly want the players to be prepared and healthy. The way players use this league has evolved. But at the end of the day, the teams were put in for the communities. It didn’t have anything to do with being a feeder. In the infancy, it was about bringing baseball to communities like Gary. That’s who we serve.
“Don’t get me wrong, we would love to have spring training. But if people feel good and safe about coming out to the ballpark, that’s the benefit. I do believe — and I hope I’m not wrong — people will want to get out, whether it’s to a RailCats game or to get a bite to eat or just to hang out.”
Tagert has been in contact with virtually every player under contract.
“They’re getting antsy,” Tagert said. “But I have to be honest with them — I don’t want it to be a false optimism. I don’t know if we’re going to have any concrete start date for at least a couple of weeks. But I told them not to give up.”
Tagert expected as many as 16 players to return from last season’s team, a relatively high total that could prove beneficial given an anticipated shallower player pool. With a delay to the start of the affiliated season, top minor leaguers who ordinarily might be released in April and May won’t be.
Even though the RailCats went 40-59 last season, Tagert’s worst record as a manager, he likes how they’re positioned.
“We feel pretty good about where we were at the end of last year,” he said. “If we had to sign a dozen players right now, it wouldn’t be impossible because there are always players, but it would be very difficult to find players who could compete at this level.”
Tagert was in Arizona for spring training, assisting with a visiting team of Japanese professionals that was playing minor league affiliates, when the coronavirus pandemic began to accelerate.
He departed March 14 for Fort Worth, his current residence, a little less than a week earlier than planned.
“As much as we’re all hopeful the season starts on time, you understand as the days go by, the chances are leaning the other way,” Tagert said. “But there’s nothing wrong with being a little optimistic about being out there and doing what you love to do.
“I don’t think it’s being selfish when I say I want to get back to work. I want the players to play. I want the RailCats to play baseball. I want people in the Steel Yard enjoying themselves — safely, of course.”
